C8i3) 
thefirfl: 900 years , and more ; asalfo, that the Reckoniflgbf ' 
the Eaflern Churches is the 'very fame to this day. He takes 
alfo notice , that the Credit of the Septuagmt: was at firft 
queftioiied by Mifcreant Jem, afterwards confronted by crofs 
Tranflations of JquiU^^ymmachm^ and Iheedotion^ all of them 
averfe to theChrittian Doflrine. Further, he lays open the 
opportunity,which the Rabbies:^ that lived in Adrkns time^had 
of making alteration in the Copies, that were then 
in being ; and fliews the unconcernednefsof Chriftiansin that 
matter. Where he alfo declares his account of the prefent lie- ' 
brew Copy ; which though it be to him confiderabic, yet is ic 
not (with himjof force fufficient tomakehimfufpefl the truth' 
of the LXXinthePremifes. 
Aad if it be demanded, why the faid R^a/'/'i^j lliduldbe more 
folicitous about this matter of Curtailing thefe Numbers of the" 
Age of the World, thanaboataltering any thing befides, which 
perhaps would have been more to their purpofe , as, for Exam- 
ple^ in the Texts which concern the Perfon and Office of the 
Meffias \ if they had a mind,or dared, to have made aa altera, 
tion at all ? He anfwers, That they muft needs fee, that the Al^ 
Imame of thefe Numbers of the LXXII, would haveprov'd 
theabfolute ruineof their Caufe tsore effeftually , than any 
thing that could be alledged againft them. For, it would have^ 
demonftrated the Time of the Meffiah to have been fully come' 
and paft, according to the general Tenet of their Schools , fol- 
lowing herein the appointments of the Prophets, and of thofe' 
others that were the later Commentators : Now moreefpecially' 
at fuch time, when after the Deftruaion of City, Temple^ Go- 
vernment, 55ooyearsof the Worlds continuance being over,' 
what more could they expeft of a Meffiah yet to come within 
his appointed time ? For, it is but of late days, that they ufd 
this defpcrate Plea , that it is for their Sins the MeJfiAh ftill de- 
lays his coming* Whereas for other Texts, which do refer ta 
the Perfon and Office of theM<?/S4^, pointed at in theBook^ 
of the Prophets, they had wit and means enough, as they 
thought, to elude the force of them by a finifter interpretation 5 
as we fee fince, they have a (forry) (hift fo todo* 
Having given this account of his fenfe concerning the S*^/- 
tmgint^ and of the Motive inducing the later to the Al- 
teration mentiqn'd j he further obferyes the guilt of the Sm^^ 
'^' ■ ■ " " ■ nunt 
